Spirits: Mythology, Legends, & Folklore

The path might have a lot of twists and turns (and good goofs), but at the end of the Årsgång (Swedish Year Walk), you’ll be able to see into the future. We’ll give you a sneak peek: It features special guest Soha ( @sokareemie ), animorphs, goat heads, and more video game references than you can shake a stick at. It’s a long walk, but a little booze and a few jokes makes it all the more fun. You...

Happy Pride! Now, let’s talk about the heat death of the universe. ...okay, it’s not THAT dark, but we go a little nuts talking about the Australian Aboriginal story of the Rainbow Serpent. We discuss Hogwarts’ lack of sex ed, how stories change with the environment, and how not EVERYTHING has to be phallic, jeez. See that rainbow up there? That means water and rain (and goofs) aren’t too far behi...

You sent them, we read them! In this episode of Spirits, we read out your creepy, vaguely horrifying, usually fascinating hometown urban legends and folklore. From Ouija board mishaps to creepy goat-legged ladies and grandpas who love scaring their grandkids, we had a blast sharing your stories with the world!  Julia recommends the gorgeous audio drama, The Far Meridian . Amanda recommends th...

We leave the world of men and enter Paradise as we sit down with Greg Rucka, head writer of Wonder Woman for DC. We discuss comic books as mythology, dig into the historical roots of Wonder Woman and the Amazons, and revel in the super queer nature of paradise. Join us to find out just how scared of powerful women the Greeks really were! A blog post version of the episode is also available here ....

This Sami Sun goddess has our back as we celebrate both the start of summer and Mental Health Awareness Month. Learn how Beaivi brings light to those in the darkness (metaphysically and literally!), how Amanda doesn’t know narwhals are real, and how butter is better when it’s got a little bit of culture.  Julia recommends this hilarious Pikachu video and Amanda recommends Your Name . Discuss...

The road to the afterlife is dangerous, but good thing we’re all going together! We take you down the path past animal-headed gods, competent women who run the universe, and a god who just wants to eat your heart. But when we finally arrive in paradise, it will be full of good goofs, bad puns, video game references, and our favorite musical finales.  Our recommendations this week: Nancy by WN...

Doomed love has never been so fun to talk about! Special guest Linda takes us through one of the most famous love stories in the Chinese cultural canon, with twists, turns, and detours to Dana Scully’s shoulder pads, Amanda’s graveyard traditions, and Julia’s favorite IRL treasure hunt. We promise to fill you with only a little bit of existential sadness at the end.  Our recommendations this...

Meet the badass mermaid ruler of the rivers and coasts of Western Africa: Mami Wata, who knows how to exact revenge and how to enjoy the finer things in life. We talk snakes that can swim, Amanda’s lack of football knowledge, complicated relationships with water and exes, and how Mami Wata is the Fuck Mother we’ve been waiting for.  If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Fol...

Creepy ravens, death rituals, and battlefield curses abound in this episode on the Celtic goddess trinity of doom and destruction. Hear A+ cursing, terrible stories about our future forms, confusion over what exactly a bull is, and of course some epic mispronunciation as we discuss Badb, Macha, Nemain, and Anann.  Thanks to Audible for supporting our podcast! Hit up audible.com/spirits for a...

As guest star supreme, Catherine Addington, tells us, Our Lady of Guadalupe is “a thing that is both.” Mexican and Catholic, native and foreign, we dive deep into a story of devotion, roses, snake skirts, widowers, adult-born gods, human sacrifice, and the power of very pious grandmas. Stick around for some hot takes on mythology-inspired fashion, why you shouldn’t try to avoid your divine mom, an...

She’s beauty, she’s grace, she’ll cut you in the face. Then behead you and wear it as a necklace. That’s right, we’re talking about Hindu goddess of badassery, Kali! We take tips on how to participate in divine dance battles, make clothing out of limbs, and be both feared and loved by the best damn battle goddess we know. Also featuring Amanda trying to list Transformers (just you wait), organic f...

Dating can be treacherous, even without skeletal girlfriends, spider wives, child-eating mistresses, and crazy vengeance monsters. But don’t worry! The ladies at Spirits are here to help you navigate the seas of supernatural dating. We teach you the warning signs that your Tinder date may be a living skeleton (key: avoid red lanterns) and why you should never cheat on your significant other (unles...

A whole year has come and gone, and we’ve told a lot of stories. So why not DOUBLE IT? To celebrate Spirits Podcast’s first birthday, we’re giving you 30 myths in as many minutes - we hit almost every continent (fuck you, Antartica), tell stories of warrior goddesses, magma monsters, creepy bears, and why Wario definitely isn’t a Maori deity.  And hey, we want to take a minute to thank you al...

All stories have the same roots - or, at least, that’s what our boy Joseph Campbell says. This week, we enter into the cycle of The Hero’s Journey with special guest Mischa Stanton. We’ll talk Basic Hero Bitches, the archetype behind grumpy Obi-wan Kenobi, stories of our theatre school dropout days, and just how to get past self-loathing when fighting the forces of evil. Mischa Stanton is creator...

It's time to get a little abstract! (Get it? Because it's about Time?) With dad jokes galore, we dive into the New Year head-first with deities and spirits who control what is to come in the next year. Nail down a funny, tipsy future full of pop culture flubs, Pokémon goofs, and weird holiday films with Episode 25, Time! If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter...

After 24 episodes and many many drinks, there is a LOT of tape on our cutting room floor. We thought it was only fair to share some of these good, good spooky goofs, gags, and bloopers with you as the end of the year approaches. Tweet us your favorite! @SpiritsPodcast If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube , & Goodreads , and review us...

He's made a list, and we've gotten smashed. This week, we stumble through the story of Krampus, the half-goat, half-demon, anti-Santa Claus. Unique traditions, questionable origins, and weird pop culture surround Europe's favorite chain-wielding holiday figure. End the year in style with a creepy/cool holiday story and a side of (a lot) of eggnog. Follow Eric on Twitter @ImEricSchneider . If you l...

There's nothing quite like a fairy tale. Heroes on quests, helpful magical animals, and… hidden sex dungeons?! We break down the famous Russian folktale of Koschei the Deathless, which defies the conventions of all the fairy tales we've heard and read before this! (Except the Little Mermaid. That's still messed up.) Hear our take on Bird Husbands, Russian Gary Stus, a turducken of death, and a bad...

Your hometown defines you - the stories you hear end up being the stories that you tell through the rest of your life. This week, in honor of heading home for Thanksgiving, we bring you the urban legends we grew up with! From haunted asylums, to spooky roads, to demonic possessions, hear the stories that got us into the creepy & cool early on.  Hear our take on Sweet Hollow Road , Kings P...

What makes a monster? This week, we take a well-known myth and turn it on its (snake) head. Everyone knows Medusa’s image and ability to turn people to stone, but we dive into her tragic origins and fearsome legacy. Also featuring translation issues, our favorite fictional pigs, and the do’s and don'ts of Greek dating. Our first ever sponsor is Central Curios ! Listener Aaron produces gorgeous, ha...

How many times do we have to tell you - Stay out of graveyards! Unless you're into tragic lives, mysterious deaths, and long-lasting urban legends. Our guest Grace McCreight ( @lizardtruth_ ) brings the myth and the wine; we bring pizza recommendations, burial advice, and New England jokes galore. Keep it spooky this Halloween with the legend of Midnight Mary! If you like Spirits, help us grow by...

We couldn't resist bringing you a special bonus minisode on the spooky topic of Jack O'Lanterns! Where did this tradition come from? Were they always pumpkins, and always faces? How about that odd name? Join us for a short, info-packed dive into the gooey history of this Halloween classic. If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and revie...

A popup ad gone wrong. A fatal taxi ride. A host of vengeful ghosts. Present-day Japan has so many creepy-cool urban legends to offer, we just had to give you a round up before Halloween. We’ll teach you how to survive an encounter with these spirits—and how to scare your friends next time you find yourselves together on a dark and stormy night. Myths discussed: The Red Room Curse, Aka Manto (Red...

We feel a storm coming! Find out what the X-Men, tempests, and royal succession debates have in common as we learn about the Modjadji, the long line of queens ruling the Balobedu people of South Africa’s Limpopo Province. Politics is fun when it’s matriarchal and magical, people. If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and review us in iT...

Across the misty moors of Wales and England, we stumble across the Druids' most mysterious landmark: Stonehenge. Follow us into the shadowed origins of this ancient formation and speculate with us about its purpose. Special guest Lauren Shippen, creator of the wildly successful podcast The Bright Sessions, takes us through options from aliens, to human sacrifice, to archaeoacoustics. Stumble with...